Our weekly chat with an Ohio State athlete features Peter Kobelt of the men's tennis team:

Question: Let’s start with team tennis; you guys have been close in the NCAAs the past few years — once in the finals, a couple times in the semifinals. Is that so-close success gratifying or frustrating?

Answer: It is way more gratifying then frustrating. Being able to compete at the top of college tennis against some of the best teams in the country is amazing. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a little heartbreaking to get so close and to fall short, but it’s a real honor to be on such a great team.

Q: Your coach, Ty Tucker, gets a lot of credit for how he motivates you guys. Does that mean he’s easy to play for?

A: Ty is not only a great coach but he is a great man. He motivates you the way you should be motivated: by working harder than anyone else. Sometimes that is hard to do as a player, but I wouldn’t want to play for any other coach in the country.

A: The taller you are, the easier it is to serve and it gives you sharper angles that make it harder to return. As far as ground strokes, I prefer shorter points but Ty has really been working with me on staying in the points longer. It is a part of my game that I can improve.

Q: Who is your favorite player?

A: Roger Federer is amazing. Everything he does is perfect. He is the best to ever play.

Q: Is he also your favorite player of all time?

A: He’s one of them. My all-time favorite is Max Mirnyi. I saw him practice when I was 10 years old and I instantly became a huge fan. I switched to a one-handed backhand the day after I saw him hit his. I modeled my game very close to his because I knew I was going to be tall like him.

Q: On to the sad stuff — the state of American men’s professional tennis. Are you optimistic that the cycle will come back around?

A: I think we have been spoiled by the past success of guys like Sampras, Agassi, Courier and Roddick. They had amazing careers and that’s what everyone is expecting now. We are missing that one superstar, but the future looks bright for American tennis. A lot of young players are coming up.

Q: How about you? Is pro tennis in your future?

A: I would say yes. Tennis has been a part of my life since Day One and I owe it to myself and my family to go out and give it my best shot and see where it takes me.

Q: It has been 10-plus years since OSU has lost at home in men’s tennis. Does that streak end on your watch?

A: You had to ask that question, huh? As players, we try to never think about things like that, but the goal is to definitely keep the streak alive. It’s a record that Ty has built, and it means a lot to him. I’ll do everything in my power to keep it going.